Certification boards relax maintenance requirements due to COVID-19
The medical specialty certification boards are relaxing their maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements and allowing more flexibility in recognition of the demands that are being placed on physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. A March statement issued by the American [...]
Free telemedicine resources for AASM members
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a greater demand for telemedicine appointments. The AASM is making these telemedicine resources free for members so you can help meet this demand. Free AASM SleepTM Select Access AASM SleepTM is a [...]
AASM supports AMA advocacy for COVID-19 financial relief for providers
During the crisis caused by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, sleep clinicians and sleep facilities have felt the financial strain as they have had to postpone services to help slow the spread of COVID-19. That is why the AASM has [...]
American Academy of Sleep Medicine announces 2020 award recipients
DARIEN, IL – Several leaders in the field of sleep medicine and two members of Congress are recipients of the 2020 American Academy of Sleep Medicine awards. “I would like to congratulate the 2020 award recipients, who join an [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – April 11, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. Updated strategies: Sleep clinics & labs The AASM has posted updated guidance online to [...]
Coronavirus conversation with sleep physician Dr. Seema Khosla
On March 27, 2020, AASM Public Safety Committee Chair Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula and Vice Chair Dr. Shannon Sullivan talked with Dr. Seema Khosla, medical director of the North Dakota Center for Sleep in Fargo, to discuss how she [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – April 4, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. CMS loosens CPAP regulations On March 30, CMS announced sweeping, temporary regulatory changes, such [...]
CMS loosens policies and regulations in response to COVID-19 public health emergency
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on March 30 that it has released an interim final rule summarizing revisions to CMS processes allowing for increased flexibility in providing safe and effective care during the COVID-19 pandemic. [...]
Coronavirus conversation with Seattle sleep physician Dr. Brandon Peters-Mathews
On March 26, 2020, AASM Public Safety Committee Vice Chair Dr. Shannon Sullivan talked with Dr. Brandon Peters-Mathews, a sleep medicine physician at the Sleep Disorders Center at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, to discuss how [...]
Don’t forget self-care in stressful times
While health care professionals, including many AASM members, are intently focused on their mission of providing patient care during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s just as important to make time for self-care. The stresses of this health emergency—long hours, difficult [...]
Read the spring 2020 issue of Montage
Medicine is both an art and a science. In this issue of Montage, we talk with Dr. Meir Kryger about “Sleep in Art,” his book exploring how artists have portrayed sleep and sleep disorders in their works over [...]
What sleep clinicians can learn from an appreciation of art
Meir Kryger, MD, professor of medicine, Yale University School of Medicine Meir Kryger, MD, is a past president of the AASM and was the recipient of the 1996 AASM William C. Dement Academic Achievement Award and a co-recipient of [...]
Digital health technologies and their impact on sleep medicine
Sales of digital health tracking devices are expected to total $10 billion this year, according to the Consumer Technology Association, with 64 million devices sold. These technologies track everything from steps to sleep, and sleep physicians can expect to [...]
Shared medical appointments increase access to care
At SLEEEP 2019, the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Assembly had the opportunity to learn about the Sleep Apnea Management program at the Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center. Brittany McLaughlin, a nurse practitioner at the sleep center, described the use [...]
Volunteer for new Telemedicine Presidential Committee
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kannan Ramar, MD, AASM President-Elect, has initiated the formation of a new presidential committee that will be charged with developing resources to help AASM members provide remote patient care effectively. To volunteer for [...]
Position statement highlights importance of sleep for physician self-care
DARIEN, IL – Physician burnout is a significantly underappreciated public safety issue, and sleep loss is often overlooked as a contributing factor, according to a new position statement published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleep is essential [...]
Coronavirus conversation with sleep clinic medical director Dr. Clete Kushida
On March 20, 2020, AASM Public Safety Committee Chair Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula and Vice Chair Dr. Shannon Sullivan talked with Dr. Clete Kushida, medical director of the Stanford Sleep Clinic in California, to discuss how his team is [...]
CMS announces relief for clinicians and facilities participating in quality payment program in response to COVID-19
On Monday, March 23, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid announced relief for clinicians, providers and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting programs, as health care professionals battle COVID-19. This relief will include granting exceptions and extensions for upcoming [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – March 28, 2020
Most read last week: Mitigation strategies The AASM has posted guidance to help sleep medicine clinicians assess their sleep clinic and sleep lab operations in response to the community spread of COVID-19. The AASM urges sleep clinicians to delay [...]
Digital treatment for insomnia receives FDA clearance
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the first prescription-based digital therapeutic for the treatment of chronic insomnia in adults, according to a press release from the product developer, Pear Therapeutics. Somryst, formerly SHUTi, uses cognitive behavioral therapy [...]
AASM congratulates top JCSM reviewers of 2019
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates top reviewer Lourdes M. DelRosso, MD, and the other reviewers who made the greatest contributions in 2019 to the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, which is the official peer-reviewed publication of the AASM. [...]
Private payers announce coverage for testing and treatment of COVID-19
Many private payers have shared announcements regarding coverage of testing and treatment for COVID-19. Some policies include: Waiving co-pays for COVID-19 testing Expanding scope of contracted lab partners to support access to testing Confirming that prior authorization and/or referrals [...]
Submission deadline for 2019 CMS Quality Payment Program is March 31
Eligible clinicians and groups can submit Quality Payment Program (QPP) data, including data for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Performance Year 2019. All program participants will be able [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – March 21, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. Mitigation strategies: Sleep clinics & labs The AASM has posted guidance to help sleep [...]
In Memoriam: Mark Mahowald, MD (1937 – 2020)
The AASM regrets to announce the passing of longtime AASM member and sleep medicine leader Mark Mahowald, MD, on March 18, 2020. He was a world-renowned sleep physician, researcher and educator who had an enormous impact on the field [...]